The Loft

The Story

Who knew a high rise loft apartment could hide such important secrets? You have 60 minutes to find them and complete your recovery mission before security shows up to investigate!

Audience

Special Events

Friends & Family

Team Building

Dating

Students

Gamers

Tourists

Difficulty Group

Advanced

Beginners

Parking

Venue - Free

Payment Methods

More Information

Number of Players:

1 to 8

Room Accepted Currency:

USD

Cost per Player:

24$

Minimum Age:

13

Game Duration in Minutes:

60

GuReview - The Loft

by Gureviewer: rachelklepadlo

Overview

Game Played On: Sunday, 4th March 2018

Recommended Team Size: 2-4 Players

Kid Friendly: Yes

Game Duration: 60 Min.

Booking Method: Online

Start Time: On Time

Who is this for: Families, Beginners, Searchers, First date

Live Actor: No

Public Transportation: N/A

Parking: Venue Free Parking, Street parking – lots of it

Parking available on the street and behind the building.

Overview Notes:

This is the escape room I would bring my aunts, uncles, and grandparents to when trying to explain what an escape room is. It is accessible to a wide variety of players, which I will further explain within the review. While definitely geared towards beginners, enthusiasts will appreciate the change of scenery presented within this game.

The Venue

Venue / Lobby Info:

Located on the second floor, there is an elevator for those who wish to use it. The lobby reminds me of an indoor garden / patio - it is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful change of pace from the ordinary. It is bright, welcoming, and does a great job foreshadowing the experience ahead.

Public Restrooms: Yes

Refreshments: No

Notes for People with Disabilities:

Directly from Play It Out's Website - "Our building is compliant, and we welcome players with all abilities. Within the game, objects need to be manipulated by hand, clues need to be read and deciphered, and there may be some bending or reaching." Within the game, there are several opportunities for players to rest on available seating, and there is a lot of space for maneuvering a wheelchair or stroller. This facility is one of the few 'truly friendly towards all' locations that I have ever visited.

The Game

Game Introduction: We have 60 minutes to investigate the loft!

Operator Intro: Interesting

Theme: Investigation, Crime, Mystery,_crime, mystery

Narrative: Gather Intelligence or Espionage

Main room first glance: Wow!

This is by far the brightest, most well lit escape room we have ever been in. While other companies try to darken the room, Play it Out embraces the light. It works perfectly with the theme of the room, and further adds to their accessibility - flashlights are not needed for visibility!
You walk into a game that truly feels like a loft apartment somewhere in Brooklyn, and it invites you to explore the space. It feels welcoming, homey, and you forget at times that you're actually in an escape room.

Flow: Very Good and coherent flow

For the most part, the flow of the room made sense. Since it was pretty linear, when we got stuck, we really got stuck and the room progression stalled. This was mostly due to us, and not a fault of the room design. Because of this, we do not recommend groups larger than 4 players - there is a good chance of players standing around doing nothing in groups larger than this.

Puzzles: Some of them were great (matched promised level)

Without being overly tech heavy, the designer made great use of the available space and floor plan of the loft. We were never huddled into a tiny dark corner to solve a puzzle - rather, they were all out in the open, where the team would be able to see what is happening.

Game Strengths:

Amazing use of the bright, airy space - unique set design - accessible to all players

Game Weaknesses:

The room is listed as hosting up to 8 players, but I cannot see having more than 4 (maybe 5 with kids?) in the space - there just isn't that many puzzles. To increase the number of players, an additional puzzle path would need to be added to keep players busy.

Play it Out has a bright, airy, accessible escape room that the entire family can enjoy - even the grandparents! They have filled a niche in the market that is much needed, and very difficult to find. I would recommend beginner players living in the area to Play It Out - this is a positive first experience that would get a player hooked!